Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 213 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports17 fire reports30 injury reports

What owners actually said

977 reports

110,000 miles · Dec 9, 2020

Steering

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DRIVING DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, MY VEHICLE STARTED TO CHIME AND DISPLAY A MESSAGE ABOUT THE POWER STEERING BEING OFF AND ESC SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE STATIONARY AT A STOP LIGHT. I STRUGGLED TO MOVE MY CAR OVER AND OFF THE ROAD, STILL WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, MY POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, GENERAL MOTORS HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN JUNE OF 2014 WITH RECALL #14117. I HAVE VERY GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN LATER MODEL YEARS AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS IT. THE LAST RECALL HAD TO DO WITH THE TORQUE SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND/OR THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROLLER UNIT, PER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11378650

110,000 miles · Dec 7, 2020

EngineForward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY GOING 65 MPH. WHEN I GOT A MESSAGE SAYING TRACTION CONTROL AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. THE CAR THEN STOPPED ACCELERATING UNTIL IT CAN TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. IT ALMOST GOT ME REAR ENDED SINCE THE CARS ARE GOING FAST AND IT LOST AL SPEED AND POWER.

NHTSA ODI #11378315

110,000 miles · Nov 28, 2020

Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE LOW-BEAM HEAD LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT, AND HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS OR LESS. VERY COSTLY DUE TO DESIGN. FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO HEADLIGHT. HAVE HAD DIFFERENT MECHANICS CHANGE AND ISSUE CONTINUES TO BE THE SAME.

NHTSA ODI #11376892

103,257 miles · Nov 20, 2020

Steering

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THE POWER STEERING WARNING COMES ON ALONG WITH SERVICE MESSAGE. WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. GLAD THIS HAPPENED IN PARK AND NOT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT. I READ ABOUT A RECALL FOR MALIBU FROM 2007 THRU 2012 I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER HAVE RECEIVED ANY INFO FROM GM. THE DEALER SHIP SAID TODAY THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. I CAN'T BELEIVE THAT THE STEERING STAFF SENSOR WAS A DIFFRENT PART FROM ONE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER. THE DISCRIPTION OF THE ISSUES I'M HAVING IS EXACTLY THE SAME THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. I BELEIVE GM IS IN ERROR THAT IF MY VEHICLE HAS A DIFFRENT PART # FOR THE SENSOR THAT PART IS ALSO DEFFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE IN THIS RECALL. HOPE YOU CAN HELP THANKS.

NHTSA ODI #11375639

13,000 miles · Nov 17, 2020

Steering

WHILE PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, LEAVING STARBUCKS,, I LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE OCCURRING, ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO THE MEDIAN.

NHTSA ODI #11375019

10 miles · Oct 31, 2020

Exterior LightingWheels

SINCE THE FIRST OF JANUARY I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHT 3 TIMES SO FAR , I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE MY BEARINGS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER 2 TIMES ON MY PASSENGER. AND THE REASON I AM WRITING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE MY DRIVER SIDE NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON IN THE MORNING WHEN I WAS LEAV…

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NHTSA ODI #11372481

100,000 miles · Oct 24, 2020

Electrical System

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT!! HEADLIGHT BRACKET MELTED! CAR FORUMS REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ELECTRICAL ISSUE. WHEN ANYBODY REPLACES HEADLIGHT HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS, THEY END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE A FEW WEEKS LATER. VERY DISAPPOINTING! PLEASE RECALL! CAR FORUM CONTAINING MULTIPLE CASES OF SAME ISSUE HTTPS…

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NHTSA ODI #11366195

100,000 miles · Oct 21, 2020

Electrical SystemEngineStructure

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MY TEENAGE SON WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WHEN HIS MALIBU GAVE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND ESC OFF WARNINGS. CAR WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND INCREASE THE CHANCES OF A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES. CODE READER SHOWED THE P2138 DTC. THE HEADLINER ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS ALSO WET. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF. I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEAKAGE IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ISSUES SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE ABOVE MENTIONED WARNINGS AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES. ACCORDING THE THE CHEVY WEBSITE, THERE ARE NO RECALLS APPLICABLE TO THIS CAR BASED ON ITS VIN.

NHTSA ODI #11365506

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteeringInjury

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THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE ENCOUNTERED THIS EXACT ISSUE, AND HAVE HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (USED) BACK IN 2013. BOTH TIMES THIS EXACT ISSUE AT HAND OCCURRED, BOTH HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING IN A SHARP CURVE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS LAST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS HIT IN EITHER CASES, HOWEVER THIS PAST TIME I PULLED MUSCLES IN MY BACK STRAINING SO HARD TO TRY AND STEER THE VEHICLE TO GET AT LEAST VERY MINIMUM OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO A SIDE STREET AND TO SAFETY. AS BOTH TIMES I WERE DRIVING THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON, AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. RESULTING IN ME NOT BEING ABLE TO BRAKE, OR STEER - THE ONLY STEERING I WERE ABLE TO DO WAS VERY STRAINED (AS PREVIOUSLY STATED), I HAD TO PUT FORTH EXTREME EFFORTS TO GET IT TO BARELY TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL ACTED AS IF IT WERE LOCKED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND COVERED UNDER A RECALL AS I'VE READ/HEARD A MULTITUDE OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT ARE ALL COMMON WITH THIS EXACT YEAR, MODEL/CAR. AND FOR THIS BE SUCH A DANGER, IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. I'M TERRIFIED TO THINK WHAT IF EVERYONE AROUND ME WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION WHEN BOTH EVENTS TOOK PLACE, IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN MY LIFE. MY SPOUSE BEING SINGLE RAISING OUR PRECIOUS 4 CHILDREN. HOW CHEVY/GM CAN LIVE KNOWING THESE ISSUES HAPPEN AND NOT ADDRESS IT IS HORRIBLE, KNOWING VERY WELL IT COULD RESULT IN A LIFE I'D NOT MORE BEING LOST. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF AND ME TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE, I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAIT, AND TURN IT ON IN ORDER TO CONTINUE MY DRIVE TO WORK. I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS DEATH TRAP OF A CAR, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THESE ISSUES COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. OTHERWISE THIS IS A LAWSUIT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI #11364680

68,000 miles · Oct 7, 2020

Service BrakesSteeringCrash

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ, I EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE WAS ONLY TEMPORARY; WHILE DRIVING APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, I WENT THE APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL HAD ALMOST NO PRESSURE. IT ALMOST WENT THE THE FLOOR BEFORE I BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT WORK, WHICH LED TO MY CAR REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, I MADE MY BEST ATTEMPT TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUID, AND NOTICED ALMOST NOTHING. THE ONLY THING I HAD NOTICED WAS SLIGHT LOW BRAKE FLUID. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I READ A FEW COMPLAINTS RELATED TO BOTH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK ISSUES, AND BRAKE FAILURE. BOTH OF THESE WHICH I EXPERIENCED. ALL OF WHICH HAPPENED AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET

NHTSA ODI #11363307

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

15V269000 · Seat Belts

May 8, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)